The four lieutenant governor candidates showed off their local knowledge at a forum Monday at Curry College in Milton. It was streamed live on our site, and we'll post the video as soon as we can process it.

The issues of health care and immigration sparked feisty exchanges between Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray and Republican state Sen. Richard Tisei at a forum Monday at Curry College.

Independent Paul Loscocco and Green-Rainbow candidate Richard Purcell also participated in the forum for lieutenant governor candidates in the Nov. 2 election.

On health insurance, Murray attacked Charles Baker, Tisei’s running mate and a former executive at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. Murray, a Democrat who is paired on the ballot with Gov. Deval Patrick, proposed reining in rising health insurance costs through state regulation similar to how utility rates are controlled.

“What did your guy do for 10 years?” Murray asked Tisei, referring to Baker’s time at the helm of Harvard Pilgrim. “He had a chance to lead by example and he didn’t.”

Tisei responded that health insurance rates rose at most companies. He criticized the Patrick administration for creating a health care system that was too complex. Tisei said he supports a system that allows people to choose from among multiple private health care providers.

“Anybody who didn’t like Harvard Pilgrim or who thought they were being gouged didn’t have to buy Harvard Pilgrim,” Tisei said, “but, yet people did. … When the government mandates something on you, you don’t have a choice.”

Purcell cited his running mate Jill Stein’s proposal for a single-payer system in which everyone participates in one plan. Loscocco said the state’s present mandatory health insurance system will promote rate hikes because it forces people to have insurance.

The forum was sponsored by The Patriot Ledger, wickedlocal.com, WCVB-TV, Curry College and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

On illegal immigration, the candidates debated whether it’s the job of local law enforcement to verify if someone pulled over or arrested is in the country legally. It’s an issue that has highlighted sharp differences among the gubernatorial campaigns.

Murray says that verifying immigration status shouldn’t take local and state police from other duties in the community.